I like to think that I am creating holiday traditions for my children that they will carry on into their own families someday. Every year I buy a gingerbread house kit for the kids and they enjoy putting it together, and of course, eating it. My mother use to make sugar cookies for us to decorate, every year, without fail. We usually try to do that around here too. Who can resist spilling an entire bottle of tiny, little green and red sprinkles all over the kitchen floor? It’s tradition. 
Mostly though, I want them to have the memories of this time of year, especially. The tree, the decorations, the baked goods and the reason why we celebrate.
This is our first year to have a real tree, as a family. And Tim even told me it’s his first real tree EVER!! So, I suppose we are starting new traditions, even 15 years into this marriage gig. I really like having a real tree and even though it sort of turned into a “kids tree” (hardly any breakable ornaments, we were worried about the puppy, he’s barely touched it), I love it more than I thought I would. I even compromised on the colored lights and made my Christmas-loving husband quite happy. I am happy too, because those big, colorful bulbs remind me of my own childhood.
I have a ton of present wrapping to do (stay tuned for a fun post about that!) and some last-minute gifts to buy. I have cookies to bake and peppermint bark to make and I need to send out a few more Christmas cards.
I also have cocoa to drink and flannel p.j.s to wear (c’mon Mother Nature these 70 degree temps don’t go very well with my fuzzy slippers), and carols to sing.
But as you can see below, we’ve already had quite a bit of holiday cheer around here. Here’s to much more in the next week and half…
What are some of your family holiday traditions?
I love the pictures and all the holiday fun. Our traditions are the light walk around the neighborhood that we did last night and Christmas Eve Brunch with our friends.
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Mmm. Christmas Eve brunch sounds awesome! And I love looking at lights!
These pictures are gorgeous! We have a ton of traditions and I love them. One tradition that has been a fav is reading the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever aloud. It takes a few weeks to get through even though it’s a short book, but you know everyone is busy all over the place these days. It’s a great book. My parents read it to my sister and brother and me when we were kids. My kids now look forward to it every year.
Merry Christmas!!!!
Angela@JumpingWithMyFingersCrossed recently posted…Thank You
Angela, that is SUCH a great tradition. It’s been a long time since I’ve read that book. I may need to get us a copy too.
Merry Christmas to you too! xo
Oh, that puppy.
I just want to snuggle him!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the real tree and if it makes you feel any better about your “last-minute” gifts to buy, I still have pretty much ALL our gifts to buy.
So enjoy the season.
Looks like you’re doing it right!
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He is VERY snuggly, I have to say.
Good luck with your gift-buying! Hope you get to enjoy the season to Julie!
Wow. They did a really good job on that gingerbread house. Whenever we try to do those it always collapses. LOL
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Confession: I did the icing on the roof.
Wow! It looks like you’ve had quite a bit of holiday cheer already! I really miss live trees at Christmastime. Someday we’ll be back there…just not yet. Your church is stunning in all those lights, too!
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Thank you! That is not our church, just to clarify. It’s an old church in an area here called Vermillionville that shows how life used to be “back in the day” in this area. Every year they light up the whole place for Christmas.
Lovely! What gorgeous pictures! And the kiddos did such a great job on the gingerbread house. I love it!
I just love your village houses. I just started a Christmas village this year. It is something I always wanted to do and I’ve been running around finding 50% off sales. I LOVE my Christmas village. It is my fav. And the kids are so ridiculously excited about it too. Pretty cute.
You still have wrapping to do? I still have SHOPPING to do. LOTS of shopping. I got such a late start this year. I am late on everything. I haven’t even made one cookie or treat yet. I am so far behind. But I am determined not to freak out.
By the way, I LOVED your Christmas card. Beautiful!
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You know, that is a miniature village and I bought it at Goodwill one year as a set. There are 7 total buildings including a hotel, church, store, etc. Gavin loves it and plays with his LEGO guys around it every year.
As does Katie…
I need to make cookies, hopefully this weekend! Good luck with your shopping, it will all get done!
And thank you, on the Christmas card! Loved getting yours too! Such a sweet family!
Listen you temptress! As if the peppermint bark wasn’t enough, there are now chocolate and peppermint rice krispie treats?? <3
Your photos make me want to invest in a camera, since I am working solely with my iPhone these days. (Well, and obviously I need to practice a lot more!)
What a happy, happy post.
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Hey, it’s not MY fault, it’s Pinterest’s fault! ;-p
And have you made that peppermint bark yet? SO. GOOD.
So festive! Love it all.
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Every photo is just a delight.
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